Blagojevich: Words on FBI tape out of context (AP)

[Yahoo!_news]

AP - Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday that statements he made on secret FBI wiretap tapes were taken out of context by prosecutors and that he might try to call senators and a top White House official as witnesses at his racketeering and fraud trial to back his version of events.

As he argued in his book, Blagojevich said his words were taken out of context, and that he was hoping to appoint Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the Senate seat in return for a deal with her father, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

Under that plan, Michael Madigan would push a public works bill designed to create thousands of jobs and health care legislation through the state House, while guaranteeing there would be no tax increase for Illinois residents.

In exchange, his daughter would get the Senate seat.

More...